Mychal Denzel Smith facts for kids

Mychal Denzel Smith (born November 6, 1986) is an American writer and author. He also shares his thoughts as a commentator on TV. He is known for his books Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching: A Young Black Man's Education (2016) and Stakes Is High: Life After the American Dream (2020). Mychal is also a fellow at the Type Media Center, which means he's an expert who does research and writes there.

Early Life

Mychal Denzel Smith grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He finished high school at Landstown High School in 2004. After that, he went to Hampton University. While he was there, he was the main editor for the student newspaper, The Script.

Career and Writings

The New York Times newspaper once called Mychal Smith "The Intellectual in Air Jordans." This means they saw him as a very smart person who was also modern and relatable.

Mychal's writings have been shared in many popular places. These include The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The New Republic. He has also appeared on TV shows like MSNBC, CNN, and The Daily Show. He was also a producer for a TV series called "Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story." This series was about the life of Trayvon Martin.

Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching

In 2016, Mychal Smith released his first book, Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching: A Young Black Man's Education. This book explores what it's like to grow up as a young Black man.

Many people praised the book. The New York Times called it "ambitious" and "timely." Melissa Harris-Perry said it was "affirming" and "necessary." The Minneapolis Star-Tribune said the book was unique and "challenges us to confront our legacies of racism." The Chicago Tribune wrote that it might be the first book to look at the lives of young Black people in such a complete way. This book became a best-seller on The New York Times best-seller list.

Stakes Is High

Mychal Smith published his second book in 2020. It is called Stakes Is High: Life After the American Dream. This book looks at what life is like after the idea of the "American Dream" has changed.

Awards and Honors

Mychal Denzel Smith has received several important honors for his work.

• In 2014 and 2016, he was named to The Root 100 list. This list recognizes the 100 most influential African Americans.
• Brooklyn Magazine also included him on their 2016 list of the "100 Most Influential People in Brooklyn Culture."
• He was nominated for an award from the National Association of Black Journalists in 2014.
• His first book, Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching, was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography in 2017.
• His second book, Stakes Is High: Life After the American Dream, won the 2020 Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction. This is a major award for non-fiction books.

Personal Life

Mychal Denzel Smith lives in Brooklyn.